Manual dryer unit for self-service car wash

ABSTRACT

A manually operated vehicle blow-drying device having a swingable overhead boom and an air supply hose extending down from a distal end of the boom.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S. C.Section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/272,225, filed Feb. 28, 2001, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to systems for cleaningvehicles. In another aspect, the invention concerns a manually operatedblow-drying device for removing moisture from the surface of a vehicle.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] After washing a vehicle, it is desirable to remove the excesswater from the vehicle in order to prevent spotting caused by dirt orother materials present in the water droplets on the surface of thevehicle. Many automated vehicle washing systems include an automaticdryer station which removes moisture from the surface of the vehicle asit is driven under the dryer. This type of automatic dryer system istypically mounted on the floor of an automated car wash bay. After thevehicle has been washed, the vehicle passes under the dryer system wherehigh velocity air is blown in an oscillating pattern across the vehicle,thereby removing moisture from its surface.

[0006] Although vehicle blow-drying devices have been employed inautomatic car washes for years, no suitable equivalent exists formanually blow-drying a vehicle. Currently, in order to dry a manuallywashed vehicle, the moisture on the surface of the vehicle must bemanually wiped using a towel, shammy, or other wiping device. Suchmanual wiping of moisture from the surface of a vehicle can be a timeconsuming and rather strenuous task.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea manually operated blow-drying device which can be used to dry thesurface of a vehicle.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide amanually operated blow-drying device for drying a vehicle without anyphysical contact between the blow-drying device and the surface of thevehicle.

[0009] A still further object of the present invention is to provide amanually operated vehicle blow-drying device that discharges heated airto aid in removal of moisture from the surface of the vehicle.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a manuallyoperated vehicle blow-drying device that is easy to install and operatein existing manual car wash facilities.

[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide amanually operated vehicle blow-drying device which includes aflow-through swivel joint which allows air to pass through the jointwhile the joint provides for pivotal movement of the boom.

[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide amanually operated vehicle blow-drying device employing a handle thatallows the operator to move freely around the vehicle while drying thevehicle's surface without kinking of the air supply hose.

[0013] It should be noted that not all of the above-listed objects needbe accomplished by the invention described and claimed herein. Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedetailed description, claims, and drawing figures.

[0014] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided a manually operated blow-drying device for drying a vehicle.The blow-drying device comprises an overhead support assembly, a hose, ablower, and a handle. The hose is coupled to the support assembly andextends generally downwardly therefrom. The blower is fluidicallycoupled to the base end of the hose and is operable to force air throughthe hose and out of the distal end of the hose. The handle is coupled tothe distal end of the hose and is operable to aid in manual manipulationof the hose.

[0015] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a manually operated blow-drying device for dryingvehicles. The blow-drying device comprises an upright support structure,a support housing, an elongated boom, a hose, a blower, and a handle.The upright support structure has a lower portion rigidly coupled to theground and an upper portion which extends at least five feet above theground. The support housing is rigidly coupled to the upper portion ofthe support structure. The boom is pivotally coupled to the supporthousing and extends laterally therefrom. The hose has an attachedportion extending along and coupled to the boom and a detached portionextending generally downwardly from the boom. The blower is positionedin the support housing and fluidically connected to the hose. The bloweris operable to force air into a base end of the hose. The handle iscoupled to a distal end of the hose and is operable to aid in manualmanipulation of the distal end of the hose.

[0016] In accordance with a still further embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a vehicle cleaning system comprising asupport housing, an air displacement assembly, a flow-through swiveljoint, an elongated overhead boom, and a hose. The support housingdefines a protected interior space and an outlet opening. The airdisplacement assembly is received in the protected interior space and isoperable to displace air through the outlet opening. The swivel jointhas an open inner collar, a concentric outer collar, and a ball bearing.The open inner collar is rigidly coupled to the support housing and ispositioned over the outlet opening so that air flowing through theoutlet opening flows through the inner collar. The outer collar isconcentrically disposed generally around the inner collar. The bearingis positioned generally between the inner and outer collars and isoperable to reduce frictional resistance to the rotation of the outercollar relative to the inner collar. The boom has a proximal boom endrigidly coupled to the outer collar and a distal boom end horizontallyspaced from the support housing. The hose has an attached portioncoupled to and extending along the boom and a detached portion extendinggenerally downwardly from the distal boom end. The hose is connected influid flow communication with the outlet opening.

[0017] In accordance with still another embodiment of the presentinvention, a method of drying a vehicle is provided. The methodgenerally comprises the steps of: (a) actuating a blower which forcesair through a hose; (b) manually grasping a handle coupled to a detachedportion of the hose; (c) pivoting an overhead boom to which an attachedportion of the hose is coupled by manually moving the handle; and (d)discharging air out of the detached portion of the hose and onto avehicle, thereby drying the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0018] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described indetail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a manually operated vehicleblow-drying device constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention, particularly illustrating the blow-drying device inan operational mode with an operator drying a vehicle;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a side view of the blow-drying device, particularlyillustrating the device in a non-operational mode with the boom and gunbeing in their resting positions;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a side view of the support housing and swivel joint withcertain portions of the support housing being cut-away to illustrate theair displacement assembly disposed in the support housing;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a sectional side view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3,particularly illustrating the centrifugal fan and electric motor of theair displacement assembly;

[0023]FIG. 5 is a sectional side view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3,particularly illustrating the centrifugal fan and electric motor of theair displacement assembly;

[0024]FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of a flow-through swivel joint,particularly illustrating the manner in which the ball bearings arereceived in the bearing races defined by the inner and outer collars ofthe joint;

[0025]FIG. 7 is a side view of an air discharge gun resting in a holsterand a timer control assembly;

[0026]FIG. 8 is a side view of the air discharge gun with certainportions being cut away to better illustrate the hose swivel connectionprovided by the gun;

[0027]FIG. 9 is an end view of the air discharge gun illustrated in FIG.8, particularly illustrating the range of motion of the hose swivelconnection; and

[0028]FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative vehicle blow-dryingdevice mounted on a vertical wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a vehicle blow-drying device 10 isillustrated in an operational mode with an operator 12 using blow-dryingdevice 10 to dry a vehicle 14. Vehicle blow-drying device 10 generallycomprises an upright support structure 16, an overhead support assembly18, an air supply hose 20, and an air discharge gun 22. Overhead supportassembly 18 comprises a support housing 24, which is rigidly coupled toupright support structure 16, and an elongated boom 26, which ispivotally coupled to support housing 24 and extends over vehicle 14.Support housing 24 houses a blower which forces air through hose 20 andout of discharge gun 22. A timer control assembly 28 is coupled toupright support structure 16 and is operable to switch the blower insupport housing 24 on and off.

[0030] In operation, the blower can be turned on by operator 12 usingtimer control assembly 28. While blower is forcing air through hose 20,operator 12 can grasp air discharge gun 22 and aim the discharged air atvehicle 14 to remove water therefrom. In order to easily manipulate airdischarge gun 22 around vehicle 14, operator can simply pull on hose 20and/or air discharge gun 22 to cause boom 26 to pivot relative tosupport housing 24 and swing over vehicle 14.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 2, vehicle blow-drying device 10 isillustrated in a nonoperational position with air discharge gun 22 beingreceived in a holster 30 coupled to upright support structure 16 andboom 26 being in a resting position to which it automatically returnsafter use.

[0032] The pivoting of boom 26 relative to support housing 24 isprovided by a flowthrough swivel joint 32. Flow-through swivel joint 32includes a first member rigidly coupled to an upper portion of supporthousing 24 and a second member rigidly coupled to aproximal boom end 34of boom 26. Flow-through swivel joint 32 allows boom 26 to swingrelative to support housing 24 on a boom pivot axis. Preferably, theboom pivot axis is slightly skewed from vertical so that when vehicleblow-drying device 10 is not in use, boom 26 automatically pivots into apredetermined resting position by gravitational force. Boom 26 extendssubstantially horizontally from flow-through swivel joint 32 so that adistal boom end 36 of boom 26 is laterally spaced from support housing24. Preferably, boom 26 is supported solely by support housing 24 in acantilever fashion.

[0033] Air supply hose 20 includes a base end 38 coupled to flow-throughswivel joint 32 and a distal end 40 coupled to air discharge gun 22. Anattached portion 42 of air supply hose 20 extends along and is coupledto boom 26, while a detached portion 44 of air supply hose 20 extendsgenerally downwardly from distal boom end 36. Detached portion 44 ofhose 20 is made of a flexible material which allows distal end 40 ofhose 20 to be easily manipulated through a broad range of motionsrelative to distal boom end 36. It is preferred for distal end 40 ofhose 20 to be coupled to air discharge gun 22 in a manner such that ahandle 48 of air discharge gun 22 can be rotated relative to distal end40 of hose 20, thereby preventing kinking of air supply hose 20 as airdischarge gun 22 is manipulated relative to boom 26.

[0034] Upright support structure 16 includes a lower portion rigidlycoupled to the ground and an upper portion which extends at least fivefeet above the ground. Support housing 24 is rigidly coupled to theupper portion of upright support structure 16 in a manner such thatsupport housing 24 is at least five feet above the ground. Preferably,support housing is supported at least six feet above the ground, andmost preferably at least seven feet above the ground. Such verticalelevation of support housing 24 ensures that boom 26 is positioned highenough to allow vehicles and operators to pass freely thereunder.

[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, support housing 24 generally includesa rigid frame 48 which is at least substantially covered by an outerskin 50. Support housing 22 defines a protected interior space withinwhich an air displacement assembly 52 is received. The air displacementassembly 52 generally includes a centrifugal fan 54 and an electricmotor 56 for powering centrifugal fan 54. Support housing 24 defines aninlet opening for allowing outside air to be drawn into support housing24 by fan 54 and an outlet opening 60 for allowing air to be dischargedout of support housing 24. Flow-through swivel joint 32 is positionedover outlet opening 60 and is rigidly coupled to frame 48. Flow-throughswivel joint 32 includes an outer collar 62 to which boom 26 (shown inFIG. 2) is rigidly coupled. Outer collar 62 is rotatable on a boom pivotaxis relative to support housing 24. Flow-through swivel joint 32 alsoincludes an attachment sleeve 64 rigidly coupled to outer collar 62.Attachment sleeve 64 is adapted to be coupled to air supply hose 20(shown in FIG. 2). Thus, outside air drawn into support housing 24through inlet opening 58 by centrifugal fan 54 is forced out of supporthousing 24 through outlet opening 60 and flow-through swivel joint 32and into air supply hose 20 (shown in FIG. 2). A heater 65 can bedisposed in flow-through swivel joint 32. Heater 65 can be any type ofheater (e.g., an electric coil heater) known in the art for heating airflowing therethrough. It is preferred for outlet opening 60 to bedefined in the top portion of support housing 24 so that boom iselevated relative to support housing 24. It is further preferred forinlet opening 58 to be positioned near the lower portion of supporthousing 24 in order to prevent a substantial amount of water fromentering the protected interior space defined by support housing 24.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 6, flow-through swivel joint 32 generallyincludes an inner collar 66, outer collar 62, upper and lower ballbearings 68, 70, attachment sleeve 64, and a flange 72. Flange 72 isadapted to be rigidly coupled to support housing 24 (shown in FIGS. 2-5)by extending bolts, or other attachment means, through openings 74 inflange 72. The lower portion of inner collar 66 is rigidly coupled to,or integral with, flange 72. Inner collar 66 is preferably an annularcylindrical member defining a flow-through opening 76 through which airdischarged through outlet opening 60 of support housing 24 (shown inFIGS. 2-5) can pass. Outer collar 62 is preferably an annularcylindrical member concentrically disposed around inner collar 66 andhaving an inner diameter which is marginally greater than the outerdiameter of inner collar 66. The outer surface of inner collar 66 andthe inner surface of outer collar 62 each include corresponding upperand lower grooves which cooperatively define upper and lower bearingraces for receiving upper and lower ball bearings 68, 70, respectively.Upper and lower ball bearings 68, 70 support outer collar 62 relative toinner collar 66 while allowing outer collar 62 to rotate relative toinner collar 66 on a boom pivot axis 78 with minimal frictionalresistance. Outer collar 62 defines upper and lower bearing openings 80,82 through which upper and lower ball bearings 68, 70 can be insertedinto the upper and lower bearing races. Once upper and lower ballbearings 68, 70 are received in the upper and lower bearing races, upperand lower cap screws 84, 86 can be threadably received in upper andlower bearing openings 80, 82, thereby keeping upper and lower ballbearings 68, 70 from exiting the upper and lower bearing races via upperand lower bearing openings 80, 82.

[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, in order to allow boom 26 toautomatically return to a predetermined resting location, it ispreferred for boom pivot axis 78 to be skewed from vertical. Suchskewing of boom pivot axis 78 can be easily accomplished by tiltinginner collar 66 relative to flange 72. Alternatively, boom pivot axis 78can be tilted by coupling support housing 24 to upright support memberof a slight angle from vertical. It is preferred for boom pivot axis 78to be skewed from vertical by a tilt angle 88 in the range of from about1 degree to about 5 degrees. Most preferably, tilt angle 88 is about 2degrees.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 7, timer control assembly 28 and holster 30 arepreferably rigidly coupled to upright support structure 16. Timercontrol assembly can be any conventional coin-operated timing switchknown in the art. Holster 30 preferably defines an opening therein forreceiving handle 46 of air discharge gun 22, thereby keeping air supplyhose 20 and air discharge gun 22 from dangling freely from boom 26(shown in FIG. 2) when not in use.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 8, air discharge gun 22 generally includes ahose coupling element 90, a main body 92, handle 46, and a nozzle 94.Hose coupling element 90 includes a first end which projects outwardlyfrom main body 92 and is adapted to be rigidly coupled to distal end 40of air supply hose 20 by any manner known in the art. A second end ofhose coupling element 90 presents an outwardly extending flange which isreceived in an inwardly extending recess 98 of main body 92. Flange 96and recess 98 allow hose coupling element 90 to be rotated relative tomain body 92. Thus, because distal end 40 of air supply hose 20 isrigidly coupled to hose coupling element 90, and handle 46 is rigidlycoupled to main body 92, distal end 40 of air supply hose 20 isrotatable relative to handle 46. Nozzle 94 extends outwardly from mainbody 92 and can be sized to provide the proper exit velocity and flowpattern for air discharged from gun 22. FIG. 9 illustrates that handle46 of air discharge gun 22 can be freely rotated relative to distal end40 of air supply hose 20.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 10, a vehicle blow-drying device 100 similar tothe vehicle blow-drying device described above with reference to FIGS.1-9 is illustrated. However, support housing 102, holster 104, and timercontrol assembly 106 of vehicle blow-drying device 100 are supported ona vertical structural wall 108 rather than a pole (as shown in FIGS. 1and 2). In such a configuration, it is preferred for the restingposition of boom 110 to be substantially parallel to the surface of wall108 so that vehicles can drive past wall 108 without contacting airsuppply hose 112.

[0041] The preferred forms of the invention described above are to beused as illustration only, and should not be used in a limiting sense tointerpret the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications tothe exemplary embodiments, set forth above, could be readily made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention.

[0042] The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrineof Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of thepresent invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departingfrom but outside the literal scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A manually operated blow-drying device for dryinga vehicle, said blow drying device comprising: an overhead supportassembly; a hose coupled to the support assembly and extending generallydownwardly therefrom; a blower fluidically coupled to a base end of thehose and operable to force air through the hose and out of a distal endof the hose; and a handle coupled to the distal end of the hose andoperable to aid in manual manipulation of the hose.
 2. A blow-dryingdevice according to claim 1, said handle being rotatable relative to thedistal end of the hose.
 3. A blow-drying device according to claim 1;and a heater coupled to the blower and operable to heat the air forcedthrough the hose.
 4. A blow-drying device according to claim 1, saidsupport assembly including an elongated boom and a support housing, saidelongated boom being pivotally coupled to the support housing, saidsupport housing defining a protected interior space, said blower beingreceived in the protected interior space.
 5. A blow-drying deviceaccording to claim 4, said boom extending substantially horizontallyfrom the support housing, said boom being vertically positioned higherthan the vehicle.
 6. A blow-drying device according to claim 5, saidsupport housing being vertically positioned higher than the vehicle. 7.A blow-drying device according to claim 4, said boom and said supporthousing being coupled to one another via a flow-through swivel joint,said flow-through swivel joint including a first member rigidly coupledto the support housing and a second member rigidly coupled to the boom,said first member defining a flow-through opening for allowing the airforced through the hose to flow through the first member.
 8. Ablow-drying device according to claim 7, said base end of the hose beingcoupled to the second member, said hose extending along and beingcoupled to the boom.
 9. A blow-drying device according to claim 4, saidboom being rotatable relative to the support housing on a boom pivotaxis, said boom pivot axis being skewed from vertical by a tilt angle inthe range of from about 1 degree to about 5 degrees.
 10. A blow-dryingdevice according to claim 9, said tilt angle being about 2 degrees. 11.A blow-drying device according to claim 4, said support housing beingrigidly coupled to an upright support structure rigidly coupled to theground.
 12. A manually operated blow-drying device for drying vehicles,said blow-drying device comprising: an upright support structure havinga lower portion rigidly coupled to the ground and an upper portion whichextends at least five feet above the ground; a support housing rigidlycoupled to the upper portion of the support structure; an elongated boompivotably coupled to the support housing and extending laterallytherefrom; a hose having an attached portion extending along and coupledto the boom and a detached portion extending generally downwardly fromthe boom; a blower positioned in the support housing and fluidicallyconnected to the hose, said blower operable to force air into a base endof the hose; and a handle coupled to a distal end of the hose andoperable to aid in manual manipulation of the distal end of the hose.13. A blow-drying device according to claim 12; and a holster rigidlycoupled to the upright support structure and defining a handle openingfor receiving the handle.
 14. A blow-drying device according to claim12; and a timer control assembly rigidly coupled to the upright supportstructure and electrically connected to the blower, said timer controlassembly operable to turn the blower off in response to a predeterminedlapse in time.
 15. A blow-drying device according to claim 12, saidupright support structure being a substantially vertical pole or wall.16. A blow-drying device according to claim 12, said support housingincluding an outlet opening proximate a top portion of the supporthousing and an inlet opening proximate a bottom portion of the supporthousing, said outlet opening being fluidically connected to the base endof the hose.
 17. A blow-drying device according to claim 12, said boombeing supported only by the support housing.
 18. A vehicle cleaningsystem comprising: a support housing defining a protected interior spaceand an outlet opening; an air displacement assembly received in theprotected interior space and operable to displace air through the outletopening; a flow-through swivel joint having an open inner collar, aconcentric outer collar, and a ball bearing, said open inner collarbeing rigidly coupled to the support housing and positioned over theoutlet opening so that air flowing through the outlet opening flowsthrough the inner collar, said outer collar being concentricallydisposed generally around the inner collar, said ball bearing beingpositioned generally between the inner and outer collars and operable toreduce frictional resistance to the rotation of the outer collarrelative to the inner collar; an elongated overhead boom having aproximal boom end rigidly coupled to the outer collar and a distal boomend laterally spaced from the support housing; and a hose having anattached portion coupled to and extending along the boom and a detachedportion extending generally downwardly from the distal boom end, saidhose being in fluid flow communication with the outlet opening.
 19. Avehicle cleaning system according to claim 18, said outer collar havinga generally cylindrical inner surface, said inner collar having agenerally cylindrical outer surface, said inner and outer surfacesincluding corresponding grooves that cooperatively define a bearing racefor receiving the ball bearing.
 20. A vehicle cleaning system accordingto claim 19, said outer collar including a bearing opening for insertingthe bearing into the bearing race.
 21. A vehicle cleaning systemaccording to claim 20; and a cap screw threadably received in thebearing opening and operable to keep the ball bearing from exiting thebearing race via the bearing opening.
 22. A vehicle cleaning systemaccording to claim 18, said inner and outer collars being rotatablerelative to one another on a boom pivot axis, said boom pivot axis beingskewed from vertical by a tilt angle in the range of from about 1 degreeto about 5 degrees.
 23. A vehicle cleaning system according to claim 22,said tilt angle being about 2 degrees.
 24. A vehicle cleaning systemaccording to claim 18, said boom being supported only by the supporthousing.
 25. A vehicle cleaning system according to claim 18, saidsupport housing and said boom being vertically positioned higher thanthe vehicle.
 26. A vehicle cleaning system according to claim 18, saidair displacement assembly including a centrifugal fan and an electricmotor, said centrifugal fan including a fan housing and a fan bladeassembly, said electric motor being operable to rotate the fan bladeassembly relative to the fan housing.
 27. A vehicle cleaning systemaccording to claim 18; and a heater positioned proximate the outletopening and operable to heat the air flowing through the outlet opening.28. A method of drying a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:(a) actuating a blower which forces air through a hose; (b) manuallygrasping a handle coupled to a detached portion of the hose; (c)pivoting an overhead boom to which an attached portion of the hose iscoupled by manually moving the handle; and (d) discharging air out ofthe detached portion of the hose and onto a vehicle, thereby drying thevehicle.